Is Affirmative action a good solution for racial discrimination in the workplace?

Question

I just need your thoughts about it

Answer 1

Affirmative action may have been necessary years ago but I do not think it is necessary any longer. People of color have made huge advances in the work place and should be respected for their knowledge and skills. By using affirmative action we are saying that we do not believe they have the skills necessary to perform the job. This is very disrespectful. All persons should be judged by their own abilities not by the color of their skin.

Answer 2

No. Affirmative Action seems to mean reverse discrimination these days. In the work place, the best person for the job should be the only factor that matters.

Answer 3

In an ideal world, the most qualified worker should get the job.

Unfortunately, this is not an ideal world. In most cases, it's still about who you know.

It still amazes me. I'm an engineer. There were many, many other minorities in my classes, both undergrad and grad. I'm in the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers. Both very strong organizations with a lot of members.

Yet, in Corporate America, which I am amazingly a part of, I still see white males dominating this field. Ironically enough, there are very few last names.

A few jobs ago, the company was in dire need of qualified engineers. I went to a hispanic friend and had him apply. Top of his class, MS degree, lots of work experience. He didn't get the job, but the GM's nephew did. He was nowhere near qualified. He had some engineering school, but finished with a political science degree or something.

It seems the only place where Affirmative Action Programs truly work is government agencies. Corporate America will always have the Good Ole Boys network.

Answer 4

Add me to the Affirmative action IS discrimination crowd. As for the 'reverse discrimination' statements: there is no such thing. Discrimination against a different group is still discrimination.
Martin Luther King Jr, said in his "I have a Dream" speech that he dreamed of a time when people would be judged 'not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.'

Answer 5

I feel that affirmative action is a form of reverse discrimination. How are people supposed to get equal treatment, if they get an excuse/or a pass for being less qualified. I'm an Asian woman, and I don't think that less qualified people should be able to move ahead just because of their race.

Answer 6

No, Affirmative action is racial discrimination

Answer 7

Affirmative Action was a needed solution when it began. Now it is a tool used to discriminate. It should be abolished as all outdated programs such as this should be.

Answer 8

I don't believe skin color should count for ANYTHING. I think we each should only be judged on who we are and not what color, sex or race we happened to be born as. The idea of setting a quota that a company must hire X number of people of this color or sex is discrimination. That means you are picking people from a line based on uncontrolables among other things. We should just stick to color blindness and hire who is best for the job no matter what color or sex they are.

Answer 9

No... I'm a woman, I'm latin, and I'm totally against affirmative action, it's nothing but another type of discrimination.

Answer 10

I think in the long term the maximum benefit would be obtained by attempting to improve the situations of those affirmitave action is designed to help and educating the general population on tolerance, as oppossed to forcing them to do it and not reaching their mind.